Bantwal : In a rather amusing and peculiar incident reported during the Ira Gram Sabha on Thursday August 7, two persons were bashed up following an altercation between the members over the issue of the slip of a chair.

It all began when a villager named Harish Ira raised an alleged  land grab case and  hurled allegations against the local unit of the Congress that it had grabbed the 18.15 acre land at Kandattattu meant for housing the poor. However, Mudipu Block Congress President and a Taluk Panchayat Member Pushpalatha Karkera intervened and asked him not to further the issue saying it may lead to pandemonium and adjournment of the meeting as earlier. It may be recalled here that the previous meet held 15 days ago was also adjourned.

Finally when everything seemed settled down and Harish was about to sit in his chair, it all of a sudden slipped and he fell down. But this was not tolerable to his supporters who felt it was a deliberate act and they began a protest. A fist fighting ensued and Harish and another person named Ibrahim were bashed up.

The situation was brought under control by the police later on. However both sides have denied the allegation of having beaten up anyone.